Garmisch-Partenkirchen travel guide

The increasingly intertwined twin locality, despite its 30,000 inhabitants, is resisting the designation of a "city" -- "market town" sounds more welcoming and manageable.

It first gained renown as the valley town of the Zugspitze, at a proud 9,724 feet Germany's highest peak. As a contrast to the rugged rock walls of the Wetterstein mountain range stand the gentler Hausberg peaks to the north, the Wank and the Kramer, the broad belt of pine forest and the lush green meadow carpets. Don't overlook the special attraction of the romantic Partnachklamm and Höllentalklamm gorges, the idyllic mountain lakes, and, naturally, the many mountain railways.